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Second Missionary Case of COVID-19, Church Explains Process of Reporting Coronavirus Cases Moving Forward

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - On Monday, March 30, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported the second known missionary case of COVID-19. The following statement was sent to the media from Daniel Woodruff, Church spokesman: As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses throughout the world, we recognize that additional missionaries will unfortunately contract the virus. A second case has been confirmed for a sister missionary in Australia who has been in self-isolation at home. We are concerned about any missionary who contracts the virus and will work to help them receive appropriate care. Gratefully, young missionaries are not generally considered to be at high risk...

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The Church and Coronavirus: All Temples Closing, Early Missionary Releases, and More

Lindsey Williams - Updated: April 2, 2020 at 3:32 p.m. MDT This is a reverse-chronological timeline of news releases from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and media coverage in relation to COVID-19, also known as coronavirus. This story will be frequently updated and can be accessed at ldsliving.com/coronavirus . Click the following links to find the latest information on Church Newsroom , or find LDS Living's timeline summary below. Church Aid (Updated March 27) Church Distribution Retail Stores (Updated April 2 at 9:15 a.m. MDT) Church Educational System (CES) (Updated March 12) Church Historic Sites (Updated March 16) Church Workforce  (Updated March...

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Why 3 Latter-day Saints around the World Say This Conference Will Be Unforgettable

Danielle Christensen - Latter-day Saints around the world have been anticipating April 2020 general conference ever since President Russell M. Nelson promised a bicentennial celebration of the First Vision and a general conference that would be “not only memorable but also unforgettable” for those who prepared for the event. María Elena Ponce Lacayo of Guatemala bought a plane ticket to Salt Lake City so she could be in the same room as the prophet and apostles for the historic occasion. Hiroko Furukawa has been looking forward to the messages from general conference in Sendai, Japan, with high expectations. And Victor Ukorebi was planning on...

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Car Accident Claims the Life of Missionary in the Dominican Republic, Injures Two Other Missionaries

Church Newsroom - A young missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has passed away. Church spokesman Daniel Woodruff  released the following statement  Saturday, March 28, 2020: Three missionaries serving in the Dominican Republic Santiago Mission were involved in a car accident this afternoon. Tragically, Elder Israel Emmanuel Ramírez Díaz, age 20, from Ecatepec, Mexico, passed away in that accident. He had been serving since April 2018. Two other missionaries with Elder Ramirez at the time -- Elder Jonata Maia Oliveira, age 20, from Fortaleza, Brazil, and Elder Brigham Darian Tovar Noriz, age 20, from Atotonilco de Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico, were...

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7 Technological Tools to Help You Better Minister to Your Families

Michelle Wilson, Contributor - This story was originally published on  LDS Living in November 2018.  My cell phone lights up. I’m being ministered to. But it hasn’t always been like that. The early members of the Relief Society were limited in their ability and scope to reach others. Their visits were by foot, sometimes by horse, showing up at members’ homes, collecting and delivering goods. Before 1876, there was no telephone and no steam engine. A Relief Society sister’s circle of influence was typically a few-mile radius, and in consideration of the weight of their daily work just to live, these visits could have been...

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What Experiencing an Earthquake in a Skyscraper Taught This Historian About a Healthy Approach to Church History

Greyson Gurley - We are all taught that our testimony and faith in the gospel should be strong, built on the “sure foundation” ( Helaman 5:12 ) of Jesus Christ.  And it’s true. Our faith should be resilient to all life throws at us, but that does mean that our testimonies should be rigid or unalterable? Spencer McBride, host of “The First Vision: A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast,” has truly immersed himself in Church history, especially the Restoration, having worked for nearly six years as a historian and documentary editor for the Joseph Smith Papers. While delving into the Church’s origin story, McBride has...

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Church Reports First Known Missionary Case of COVID-19

LDS Living - Editor's note: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed a second missionary case of COVID-19 Monday morning, March 30, and explained the process of reporting coronavirus cases moving forward.  Read the latest statement here . On Friday evening, March 27, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported its first known missionary case of COVID-19. The following statement was sent to the media from Daniel Woodruff, Church spokesman: Today, we learned that a young missionary serving in Mexico City has tested positive for COVID-19. The young man, who is from Guatemala, is being treated for his mild symptoms....

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Found in the Footnotes: How We Can Claim the "Healing" Blessings Promised by Prophets and Apostles

Lindsey Williams - Editor's note: Our weekly Friday column, “ Found in the Footnotes ,” explores some of the footnotes from remarks given by General Authorities and General Officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since we published the last "Found in the Footnotes" column , life looks remarkably different for many. Several have packed up their office and are working from home. Sacrament meeting is being held in living rooms instead of in chapels . And each time I look out onto the Salt Lake Valley and see the steeples of the Utah temples, my heart hurts as I question...

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What You Need to Know about How COVID-19 is Affecting Missionaries Worldwide

Danielle Christensen - Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are serving during an unprecedented time. According to Church News , approximately 50 percent of the Church’s 67,000 missionaries have returned home due to the COVID-19 pandemic for reassignment or release. On Friday, March 27, one missionary serving in Mexico City tested positive for the coronavirus . A second case of COVID-19 for a missionary in Australia was also reported by the Church on March 30. Moving forward, the Church plans to "rely on public health agencies and individuals to make the required notifications" to the public. In an interview on...

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Extensive Renovation for Columbus Ohio Temple to Begin Later This Year

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the closure of the Columbus Ohio Temple for extensive renovation. While presently closed due to COVID-19, and it is unknown when the temple will reopen, the Columbus Ohio Temple will close for refurbishing beginning August 15, 2020. It is expected to reopen in late 2022.   Latter-day Saints in the Columbus Ohio temple district are encouraged to attend the Indianapolis Indiana and Detroit Michigan Temples during the renovation.   Details for the public open house and rededication will be provided as the renovation nears completion.   The Columbus temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley...

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What We Can Learn from Early Latter-day Saints About Feeling Temple Power Without Temples in Operation

Jannalee Sandau - Did you know that the first temple of this dispensation, the Kirtland Temple, was dedicated on March 27, 1836—183 years ago? In light of that anniversary and the recent announcement that all temples are temporarily closed because of COVID-19 concerns , here are a few things we learned from another time in history when life was uncertain and temple worship was not always an option.   1. Temple work doesn’t have to stop without temples.   Did you know that very little temple ordinance work was done in the Kirtland Temple? Only the washing and anointing ordinances were introduced in this...

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How to Talk About Addiction in a Way That Everyone Can Relate

Jacob Hess - As long as you’re talking with someone else speaking a common language, it’s easy to assume that the words you’re both using mean the same thing. But in the polarized atmosphere of America today, that has become less and less true about more and more words. Several years ago, I joined an ideologically diverse group of dialogue leaders in mapping out contested terms in America’s political lexicon for what we called The Red Blue Dictionary , including words like “social justice,” “constitutional,” and “truth.” Since co-writing a book called You’re Not as Crazy as I Thought (But You’re Still Wrong) with...

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Need Some Help with Enos–Words of Mormon? Here Are 4 Aids

Lindsey Williams - This week marks the third week of suspended Church meetings. If you are needing a little help to teach your family or make your Sabbath experience better, look no further. Whether you need a study group, some "home" teacher help, a video for your lesson, or a special guest speaker, we have you covered for this week's Come, Follow Me  lesson on Enos–Words of Mormon . If You Need a Study Group Looking for a way to dive deeper into these short books of the Book of Mormon? Try the socially-distant study group “ Sunday on Monday .” This week, podcast...

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Emily Belle Freeman and David Butler Record Special Message for Quarantined Missionaries

Greyson Gurley - If you’re anything like us, this week you might have received a notification that read: “Don’t Miss This – SPECIAL EDITION FOR MISSIONARIES.” Wait a minute! This wasn’t in the Don’t Miss This 2020 Journal and it definitely is not one of the upcoming Come, Follow Me lessons. That’s right, Emily Belle Freeman and David Butler taught a special mid-week lesson, entitled “Purpose In This Place.”  Freeman and Butler recently had the opportunity to connect with quarantined missionaries in the California Sacramento Mission and they recorded their lesson for all to enjoy, missionary or not. In the midst of the COVID-19...

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This Week from the Pulpit: How Church Leaders Are Connecting with Us during Social Distancing

Greyson Gurley - Editor's note: " This Week from the Pulpit " highlights recent messages by General Authorities and General Officers of the Church. As many practice social distancing, Church leaders are still delivering inspired messages and testifying to us through social media. From Church leaders celebrating the anniversary of Joseph Smith’s First Vision and encouraging preparation for the upcoming General Conference to messages of peace and comfort during this period of COVID-19, here are a few summaries of their messages shared this last week. ► Related Content:  President Nelson Asks the World to Fast with Him on Sunday for Relief from COVID-19 President...

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President Nelson Asks the World to Fast with Him on Sunday for Relief from COVID-19

LDS Living - President Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has extended an invitation to all people worldwide to participate with him for a day of fasting and prayer on Sunday, March 29. “As a physician and surgeon, I have great admiration for medical professionals, scientists, and all who are working around the clock to curb the spread of COVID-19,”  President Nelson said in a video invitation . “I am also a man of faith, and I know that during these challenging times, we can be strengthened and lifted as we call upon God and His Son,...

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“Everything Is Going to Be Just Fine”: President Ballard Reassures the World Will Overcome COVID-19

LDS Living - President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was 13-years-old when he learned from his mother that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. It was December 7, 1941, and the attack precipitated the United States' involvement in World War II. Ballard recalls feeling afraid but eventually “things resolved themselves.” No stranger to significant hinge points in history, the 91-year-old Church leader told the Church News on Tuesday that the world will win this “war on the coronavirus.” President Ballard reassured members that “it won’t be long before the temples are up and operating.” He also said that...

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19 Ways the Church Is Prepared for the COVID-19 Pandemic

Lindsey Williams - Two weeks ago I walked out of a temple session and powered on my phone to a smattering of notifications: a Utah Jazz player had tested positive for COVID-19, large gatherings at CES institutions including graduations had been canceled, and it looked like I was going to be working remotely for some time. That was just one night. Over the next several days, Church meetings would be suspended worldwide, missionaries would return to their home nations, and temple worship would be temporarily suspended. I frequently think about how I felt in that temple session—my last temple session for a long time—and...

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3 New Handbook Chapters Released: Primary, Young Women, and Aaronic Priesthood Quorums

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Under the direction of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published updates today, March 25, 2020, to chapters in its General Handbook about Aaronic Priesthood quorums, Young Women and Primary (the Church’s organization for children). The chapters are available in English online and in the Gospel Library app. General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints replaced both  Handbook 1 (for stake presidents and bishops) and  Handbook 2 (for all other leaders) last month. The new book (digital only, with a few exceptions for some areas)...

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How the Book of Mormon Design Has Changed Over the Last 100 Years

Kelsey Berteaux - Editor's note: This story was originally published in December 2015. It is being shared again to celebrate the 190th anniversary of the publication of the Book of Mormon.  Pause for a moment and picture a copy of the Book of Mormon. What does it look like? Is it slender and blue with gold embossing on the front? Or maybe part of a thicker volume that contains other books of scripture? But not every copy of the Book of Mormon looks like the "missionary" volume we all picture. Over the years, there has been a surprising variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and...

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3 Historic Events That Give Me Hope During This Time of Distress

Jannalee Sandau - “I was 5 years old when Mount Saint Helens erupted in Washington state . . .”  The line from a stranger’s post that had been shared by one of my friends caught my attention while I was scrolling through all the political articles, toilet paper memes, and natural disaster reports that have been peppering, or rather bombarding, my social media feeds lately.    Maybe it was the glimmer of hope that someone else had survived a catastrophe. Maybe it was my recent anxious obsession with natural disasters after experiencing my first earthquake in Utah this week. But I stopped to read...

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First Presidency: All Temple Ordinances, Including Live Ordinances, Temporarily Suspended

LDS Living - The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following letter  March 25, 2020, to Latter-day Saints everywhere:  Dear Brothers and Sisters, After careful and prayerful consideration, and with a desire to be responsible global citizens, we have decided to suspend all temple activity Churchwide at the end of the day on March 25, 2020. This is a temporary adjustment, and we look forward to the day when the temples will reopen. Please be assured of our sincere love and appreciation for your devotion and faith. Sincerely, The First Presidency ► Related content:  The Church and...

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Our Ultimate Latter-day Saint Bracket Challenge Starts Tomorrow

LDS Living Staff - Thursday, March 26  at noon,  LDS Living   will kick off its very own Latter-day Saint culture bracket. While we know Latter-day Saints are not perfect, we love our culture—quirky traditions, classic cheesy films, jiggly green Jell-O and all. In order to help us remember some of the positive and fun things our culture has produced, beginning Thursday at noon, we will launch the tournament on  LDS Living 's Instagram account , putting 32 lovable aspects head-to-head in a two-week battle!  Follow us on Instagram and check the stories daily to never miss the chance to vote for what you feel is...

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7 Quotes from Church Leaders to Bring You Hope

LDS Living Staff - There are a lot of unknowns in the world right now. Whether you're feeling anxiety and depression due to COVID-19, are experiencing stress from recent natural disasters, or anything else in between, you are not alone.  As President Nelson once said , no matter "how desperate things may seem, remember—we can always have hope. Always!" And as Sister Sharon Eubank reminded Latter-day Saints during her April 2019 general conference talk, " Christ: The Light That Shines in Darkness ," we can take courage because the Savior's light is always there for us. Many Church leaders have spoken about living with hope...